NOBO JMT Acclimatization Trail Start Question

Hey Matt – my friend and I are also researching JMT options for 2016. Horseshoe Meadows is above 10,000′, so it’s a higher start, and you’d be hiking over 12,000 passes on the first day to access the JMT, depending on your route.

To acclimatize, you could start your hike someplace lower and a few days away from the southern JMT, such as Kennedy Meadows. Alternatively, you could day hike for two days first, being sure to sleep at a moderate elevation, such as camping at Mamoth Lakes or Tuolumne Meadows between 7,000′ – 9,000′). Of course, being in shape, being well hydrated, taking it easy the first few days, and knowing how your body reacts to altitude all help too.

Thanks Lester. I am in good shape however my dad is 74 (still fit though).

That is definitely the plan to slowly acclimatize. I read somewhere there is a 3 day hike of sorts with a gradual rise in elevation that meets up with the JMT at the southern end. The added bonus was that it was relatively easy to get a permit from this trailhead too.

Kennedy meadows would be around 3 days hike north to the JMT and starts nice and low at 6400′. However, the first commonly-used resupply point that I’m aware of (Onion Valley) is around 100 miles away – a long carry. A resupply at Horseshoe Meadows could solve the long carry issue, if you can figure out the logistics. FYI the johnmuirtrail Yahoo group has a lot of good resources, printouts and threads on resupply strategies you might find helpful.

I think if you want to go NOBO the best strategy is to acclimatize by way of either a short separate trip or dayhikes and camping at 8-10k, as Lester suggests. The reason I say this is resupply issues. If you use a different trailhead than the Portal, you are adding days to what is already the longest stage of the trip. You can mitigate this by way of a resupply at Kearsarge, but that’s more complicated than MTR (the next possibility and a very easy resupply point). Of course there are other attractions to a Horseshoe start – the easier permit situation tops among them. But I’d sat that for most people it makes a Kearsarge resupply a must. And I can’t think of another trailhead that would be better – starting at the southern Kennedy Meadows would be a nice gradual approach, but that’s more like 60 miles

One of the many reasons why SOBO is so popular – it’s easier as far as acclimatization, plus you start with the short resupply segments and thus carry less weight at the beginning. The largest load comes when you are well aclimatized and have rounded into shape.

Thank you. I will definitely look into that.